Process for structuring and managing the configuration of industrial products, and particularly aircraft

Abstract

This invention relates to a process for structuring and managing the configuration of an industrial product using processing means comprising at least one processor, a memory, data input means and a display screen, in which: a set of technical objects is described, each technical object either representing a product function (EPAC), or describing an implementation method (TDU) for such a product function, in order to achieve a configuration of this product; a database is updated to specify the definition of each technical object and of rules and constraints; this database is used interactively and dynamically through a selection of options.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system to structure and manage a configuration of an industrial product, taking account of options selected by a customer, comprising: 
 means for processing for describing a set of technical objects, each technical object either representing a product function or describing an implementation method for making a product configuration for the product function, the set of technical objects representing manufacturing options of the industrial product;    means for storing to be updated for clarifying a definition of each technical object and its inter-relations with other of the technical objects in the product configuration by an expression of rules and constraints; and    means for data input and means for displaying for interactively and dynamically using said means for storing during definition of the product, through the selection of the options by the customer.    
     
     
         2 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein each technical object represents either a function of an aircraft or describes an implementation method of the aircraft function to create an aircraft configuration.  
     
     
         3 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the means for processing comprises: 
 a knowledge management module;    a contract management module;    an administration module; and    a mass management module;    all working on the means for storing.    
     
     
         4 . A system according to  claim 3 , 
 wherein the knowledge management module is configured to manage technical objects each representing an aircraft function,    wherein the contract management module is configured to manage fleet configurations of aircraft;    wherein the administration module is configured to manage user profiles, and    wherein the mass management module is configured to manage mass of a customized configuration from data supplied from the contract management module.    
     
     
         5 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the industrial product is considered as a set of functions in a functional approach.  
     
     
         6 . A system according to  claim 3 , wherein the contract management module works in a connected or disconnected mode.  
     
     
         7 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein in the means for processing a technical object oriented configuration is used in which the options and corresponding implementation methods are selected directly in a list sorted by at least one of ATA chapter, job category, and sales policy, the selection being made either individually or globally using a global procedure that joins a possible application and a weight to a set of options in a same functional domain.  
     
     
         8 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein in the means for processing a functional oriented configuration is used that supplies a functional approach to directly select technical objects, specifying required properties of a functional characteristic.  
     
     
         9 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the means for processing allows a contract manager to start a configuration checking process at any time.  
     
     
         10 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the industrial product is an aircraft.  
     
     
         11 . A system to structure and manage a configuration of an industrial product, taking account of options selected by a customer, comprising: 
 a processor configured to describe a set of technical objects, each technical object either representing a product function or describing an implementation method for making a product configuration for the product function, the set of technical objects representing manufacturing options of the industrial product;    a database to be updated for clarifying a definition of each technical object and its inter-relations with other of the technical objects in the product configuration by an expression of rules and constraints; and    a data input and display for interactively and dynamically using said database during definition of the product, through selection of the options by the customer.    
     
     
         12 . A system according to  claim 11 , wherein each technical object represents either a function of an aircraft or describes an implementation method of the aircraft function to create an aircraft configuration.  
     
     
         13 . A system according to  claim 11 , wherein the processor comprises: 
 a knowledge management module;    a contract management module;    an administration module; and    a mass management module;    all working on the database.    
     
     
         14 . A system according to  claim 13 , 
 wherein the knowledge management module is configured to manage technical objects each representing an aircraft function,    wherein the contract management module is configured to manage fleet configurations of aircraft;    wherein the administration module is configured to manage user profiles, and    wherein the mass management module is configured to manage mass of a customized configuration from data supplied from the contract management module.    
     
     
         15 . A system according to  claim 11 , wherein the industrial product is considered as a set of functions in a functional approach.  
     
     
         16 . A system according to  claim 13 , wherein the contract management module works in a connected or disconnected mode.  
     
     
         17 . A system according to  claim 11 , wherein in the processor a technical object oriented configuration is used in which the options and corresponding implementation methods are selected directly in a list sorted by at least one of ATA chapter, job category and sales policy, the selection being made either individually or globally using a global procedure that joins a possible application and a weight to a set of options in a same functional domain.  
     
     
         18 . A system according to  claim 11 , wherein in the processor a functional oriented configuration is used that supplies a functional approach to directly select technical objects, specifying required properties of a functional characteristic.  
     
     
         19 . A system according to  claim 11 , wherein the processor allows a contract manager to start a configuration checking process at any time.  
     
     
         20 . A system according to  claim 11 , wherein the industrial product is an aircraft.